History of Running

Adolf Dassler, from Germany, invented running shoes and developed different sneakers for long-distance runners and sprinters.

The International Amateur Athletic Federation officially declared the marathon to change from 24.85-mile distance to a 26.2-mile distance.

Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to enter the Boston Marathon.

Running races popped up across the globe from 5K to marathons. Running became a sport for mass population, and it improved health of runners regardless of age, gender, and race.

Frank Shorter won a gold medal in the Marathon at the Munich Olympic Games.